Man connected to theft ring faces new charges

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 12:37 PM.

A Richlands man known for his part in one of the largest theft ring busts in
North Carolina
history has been charged with stealing tools, appliances and furniture from area homes and businesses.

Culley Moran Fountain, 41,
Richlands Loop Drive
, had his first appearance in court Monday on weekend charges by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office of 13 counts each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods.

He is accused of breaking into several area residences and construction companies in January and February and stealing appliances to include refrigerators and stoves, furniture and a slew of hand and power tools, according to warrants.

Fountain is notorious for his part in a $2 million theft ring busted by local, state and federal authorities in 2007. He was convicted of a dozen felony counts and given five years probation in that case.

He helped build a black market operation that paid cash to thieves for stolen merchandise from all over the state, marking it as possibly the largest theft ring in
North Carolina
history, authorities said at the time.

Conspirators stole everything from power tools to microwaves to shoes — even kitchen sinks — from dozens of construction sites. Only about 10 percent of the stolen property was reclaimed. The rest — including cars, trailers, boats and power tools — was sold by the sheriff’s office at auction.

Fountain’s criminal activities didn’t end there. He was released from prison in April after serving one year, two months and 17 days for breaking and entering in
Carteret
County
. In 2010, he broke into a
Newport
business on Christmas Eve and stole thousands of dollars worth of chainsaws.

A Richlands man known for his part in one of the largest theft ring busts in North Carolina history has been charged with stealing tools, appliances and furniture from area homes and businesses.

Culley Moran Fountain, 41, Richlands Loop Drive, had his first appearance in court Monday on weekend charges by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office of 13 counts each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods.

He is accused of breaking into several area residences and construction companies in January and February and stealing appliances to include refrigerators and stoves, furniture and a slew of hand and power tools, according to warrants.

Fountain is notorious for his part in a $2 million theft ring busted by local, state and federal authorities in 2007. He was convicted of a dozen felony counts and given five years probation in that case.

He helped build a black market operation that paid cash to thieves for stolen merchandise from all over the state, marking it as possibly the largest theft ring in North Carolina history, authorities said at the time.

Conspirators stole everything from power tools to microwaves to shoes — even kitchen sinks — from dozens of construction sites. Only about 10 percent of the stolen property was reclaimed. The rest — including cars, trailers, boats and power tools — was sold by the sheriff’s office at auction.

Fountain’s criminal activities didn’t end there. He was released from prison in April after serving one year, two months and 17 days for breaking and entering in CarteretCounty. In 2010, he broke into a Newport business on Christmas Eve and stole thousands of dollars worth of chainsaws.

Just prior to that he served two months in prison for providing fictitious information to law enforcement in PenderCounty and 11 months for breaking and entering in DuplinCounty.

Fountain’s criminal convictions date back to 1989 and include drug trafficking, assault and robbery, according to the N.C. Public Safety Department.

He is being held in the Onslow County Jail on a $130,000 bond. His next court date hasn’t been set.

Crime Stoppers of Onslow County is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to further arrests in the crimes.

Anyone with information concerning the latest incident can contact the Jacksonville/Onslow Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273 or the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office at 910-455-3113. Callers do not have to reveal their identities.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.